Antivirus System Pro :(

Why do jerks do this?  Why do they create software that takes over your computer and wastes valuable time and money .... especially in THIS economy?  Why don't they use their skills for GOOD instead of EVIL???  This and many other questions lead me to my current blog .... the treachery of Antivirus System Pro :(

One of the ladies in my office realized she had a problem when the warning sounds came on --- there is a Trojan on your computer !!  Quarantine or delete it ... she tried both, but neither worked.  The warning came up again and again.  She ran a virus scan with Avast and Mcafee, both of which identified the problem, but neither could fix.  We googled eradication steps and spent 5 hours deleting, un-hijacking (check out HiJackThis - a great utility to have on your computer!).  The porn and viagra pop-ups ceased, and the computer could access the internet, but our joy was brief....

The next day, the virus was BACK.  Someone suggested downloading Malwarebytes (which is recommended on several forums), however, the virus would not allow it to work.  So, another malware removal program was downloaded .... only to realize that it had ANOTHER VIRUS!!!

Well, enough of this!!!  I had previously used McAfee's Virus Removal Service and they were wonderful.  They can log into your computer remotely and kill the evil virus.  (Why didn't we think of this sooner???!!!)  The site is http://home.mcafee.com/Root/Support.aspx.  The cost is $89.95 ... much less than an entire day of staff time!!  And again, Mcafee saved the day (and the computer!) .  They logged in and had the machine cleaned in about 30 minutes.  Hooray!! 

Next time, use McAfee's Virus Removal Service FIRST!!

Thank goodness that insurance is not as frustrating as eradicating a computer virus!!  Your Trusted Choice agent, http://www.treutel.com/, makes your transaction pleasant and speedy, and we explain everything to you so you know what you are purchasing and that you are protected.  Don't be "hi-jacked" by shopping only on price, because your Trusted Choice agent, Treutel Insurance Agency Inc will be sure you have good coverage and may even be able to SAVE YOU MONEY ON YOUR INSURANCE!  Yesterday, we saved one of our wonderful clients over $1,000 per year over what he was paying with his previous auto insurance carrier .... a very nice Christmas present indeed.  Merry Christmas!!!

Contact Treutel Insurance for all of your insurance needs. We are here for you! email: info@treutel.com, LIVE CHAT, FACEBOOK, MERCHANT CIRCLE, PHONE:228-467-5662, FAX:228-466-4314, or visit us at 401 Hwy 90 in Bay St Louis MS.


We are licensed to write coverage in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Also, check out our MOST BEAUTIFUL SNOWFLAKE contest which is running through the end of December at http://http://http://www.treutel.com///.

Where is the best place for auto insurance quotes?

Some advertisers would have you think that auto insurance can be purchased in a box. How wrong you would be to be manipulated by that type of poor advice! Today’s consumers are much more intelligent and should engage their local Trusted Choice agent (http://www.treutel.com/  on the Gulf Coast) to provide advice on available coverages and advocacy in the event of a claim.


Many factors affect pricing on insurance – age, driving record, vehicle, location, and other factors. Trusted Choice agents represent many different insurance companies and are able to provide you with CHOICE. A local agent is there when you need them – unlike a “box” or an 800 number.

Contact Treutel Insurance for all of your insurance needs.  We are here for you!  email: info@treutel.com, LIVE CHAT, FACEBOOK, PHONE:228-467-5662, FAX:228-466-4314, or visit us at 401 Hwy 90 in Bay St Louis MS.
We are licensed to write coverage in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.
Also, check out our MOST BEAUTIFUL SNOWFLAKE contest which is running through the end of December at http://http://www.treutel.com//.

How to Save Money on Auto Insurance

A CPI study completed for October 2009 reflected an 11% increase in auto rates over the past year.  Nebraska (+20%) and Idaho (+15%) led the nation's increase, while Montana (-16%) and several southern states, Mississippi (-5%), Louisiana (-6%), and Georgia (-7%) actually benefitted from lower rates.

An article on About.com Top Ways to Turn Your Current Car Insurance Into Cheap Insurance recommends the following ways to lower your insurance cost:
- Add theft devices and/or window sketching
- Combine all vehicles in the household on one policy to obtain multi-car discounts
- Look for carriers offering 12-month policy (instead of 6 months)
- Check your mileage carefully.  Many policies offer discounts for vehicles with low annual mileage.
- Increase deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverage (if you have a loan, you will need to verify that your lienholder will allow the higher deductible)
- Take Defensive Driving classes for a policy credit
- Combine policies with the same provider (auto and home, or auto and rental).  The discounts can be significant.
- Watch your credit rating which could impact your rate.  If your credit is a problem, you may wish to seek a carrier who does not check credit, although there are very few.
- Purchase an "insurance friendly vehicle" (i.e. Avoid sports cars and luxury vehicles and vehicles with a high theft history.  Select vehicles that have low repair costs)

Your Trusted Choice agent, http://www.treutel.com/, can provide you with multiple quotes from multiple carriers and advise you on coverages and available credits.   Every day we work with our clients to provide better coverage and save them money!  Contact us for a free-no-obligation quote.  Reach us via CHAT, EMAIL, PHONE:228-467-5662, FAX:228-466-4314, or visit us at 401 Hwy 90 in Bay St Louis MS.

We are licensed to write coverage in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

Also, check out our MOST BEAUTIFUL SNOWFLAKE contest which is running through the end of December at http://www.treutel.com/.

Cellphone Medical Diagnosis

New software is being developed by American and Austrailian scientists that will allow a person to merely cough into their phone and obtain a diagnosis of their illness.  (Source: news.discovery.com)

The software measures the "type of cough" (dry or wet, productive or non-productive) and the "intensity" and can determine whether a virus or bacteria is causing the cough.  According to Dr Jaclyn Smith from University of Manchester "It could really improve disease diagnosis and help improve people's access to health care".

Preventive care is being promoted by most health insurers today and innovative applications will continue to improve our healthcare.  Contact Angelyn or Becky at Treutel Insurance, http://www.treutel.com/, for information on health care insurance.  Treutel Insurance is your Trusted Choice agent. 

You can reach us by CHAT (chat.livechime.com/treutel/blog), FACEBOOK, email: info@treutel.com , phone: 228-467-5662, fax:228-466-4314, or visit us at 401 Hwy 90, Bay St Louis, MS 39520.

Which would you choose – chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry ice cream?

Which would you choose – chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry ice cream? A 2-bedroom condo only 10 minutes from the office or a 3-bedroom home 30 minutes from work?


In a book titled “How We Decide” by Jonah Lehrer, the author delves into the neuroscience behind our decision making. Our decisions are based on emotion and our connection to the topic. Decision-making has actually evolved over time, and we make decisions, in most cases, BEFORE we have assimilated all of the available data.

We typically will make up our minds using “loss aversion”, in other words, we will choose the option that keeps us from feeling bad, and we prefer the choice that will make us feel good. Decision making is part of our biological make-up. However, knowing your “reflex response” may help you recognize it and keep you from being misled by choices provided to you by marketers who would attempt to manipulate your emotions.

I attended a great presentation by David Goldsmith (www.davidgoldsmith.com) where he shared techniques one could use to make better decisions. The trick is to ensure that you fully and precisely identify your challenge and express it in the way that it “should” happen. Then look at it from a “future oriented” perspective. Example: Challenge= What would it take to increase my sales by 12%? Using this approach will yield more effective results. Especially since, according to a University study, we all make over 200 decisions per day related to food!

Another value used in decision making is time savings. Many in today’s fast paced work would choose to pay a higher price for convenience. We prefer “added-value” as we review our options.

Your Trusted Choice agent at Treutel Insurance can save you time and money on your complex decisions regarding insurance coverages. Contact Treutel Insurance via CHAT or EMAIL: info@treutel.com or PHONE: 228-467-5662, or FAX: 228-466-4314 or FACEBOOK or MERCHANTCIRCLE or at our WEBSITE: http://www.treutel.com/.

Using the Internet to Make More Sales for Your Business

Using Social Networking and Internet Marketing can help you boost sales for your business.  Why, you may ask?

1) Social Networking saves you money because you can reduce the cost of print advertising.
2) An integrated website is an extension of your physical storefront.
3) Cyber-connections allow you to reach more potential customers than you could physically meet in a day.
4) Measure the success of your business website and search engine optimzation with tools like Google Analytics (www.google.com/analytics).
5) Use a rotation schedule to leverage the time comittment for maintaining your social networking presence.

Your Trusted Choice agent is using Social Networking and Internet Marketing to provide more convenience for today's insurance consumer.  Contact Treutel Insurance via chat: http://chat.livechime.com/treutel/blog or email: info@treutel.com or phone: 228-467-5662 or fax: 228-466-4314 or come visit: 401 Hwy 90, Bay Saint Louis MS.

See you in cyberspace!

http://www.treutel.com/         http://blog.treutel.com/

Where can I get auto insurance I am 18 and just purchased my first car?

Many factors determine the price of auto insurance for young people - your driving history, your credit history, your grades in school, and more. Auto insurance is costly for young people due to the high frequency of accidents in your age group. If you are still living with your parents, your least expensive option will be to be added to your parent's policy, and it also provides them with better protection. Check with a Trusted Choice Insurance Agent in your area for advice, coverage options, and a choice of insurance carriers. Trusted Choice agents shop around, so you can spend your time on more important things! Enjoy your new wheels!

If you are in the Mississippi, Alabama, or Louisiana area, contact Treutel Insurance at 228-467-5662, or chat, or email.

Reduce Your insurance Costs

USA Today-Weekender featured a column on how to "Trim Your Insurance Costs" for personal insurance.  Suggestions include increasing your deductibles, bundling your auto and home policies with the same carrier, asking about other discounts such as alarm credits or driver education course credits, and using an Independent Trusted Choice insurance agent.

The III (Insurance Information Institute) also offers suggestions for business owners to save money on commercial insurance coverage.  Suggestions include: Shopping around, Requesting Group Rates, Choose a higher deductible, Consider packaging coverage together, Set up a Risk Management program, Move to a suburb, and Work with your Insurance Professional Agent to ensure that you have the right amount and right type of coverage.

Treutel Insurance is happy to assist you in a review of your coverage to ensure that you are adequately protected, that you are aware of available discounts, and that you are provided choice.  Your Trusted Choice agent can assist you in your selection by providing objective information and assist you with understanding the complexities of insurance coverage.  Your Trusted Choice Agent has up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and can help ensure that everything flows together smoothly.  Contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or at our website.  We also offer chat service!  We are here for YOU!!

Which would YOU give up? TV, Cell, or Web?????

In a fun global survey by Reader's Digest, participants were asked one question:

Which would you give up - your TV, your Cell, or your Web?


The results were revealing.  TV was the clear loser with 11 of 15 countries voting to Turn Off the Tube.  3 countries voted to Give Up Their Cell Phone, and only 1 country (Brazil) chose to Unplug the Internet.

Cost probably drove some of the choices.  In Brazil, the cost of Internet access is rather high, and in Canada, cell phone plans are expensive.    Younger reponders were more likely to vote to give up TV, citing that the Internet keeps them in touch with family and friends.

How would you answer?

We have added a chat feature to our website at http://www.treutel.com/ and to our facebook page, so if you have an insurance question or a comment about Trusted Choice, please chat with us!!

Avoiding Technology Ailments

Health Magazine published a helpful article on how to avoid ailments from over-using technology gadgets.

Blackberry Thumb - too much thumb-typing can lead to pain or numbness.
To prevent: several times per day, open your hands very wide spreading your fingers and then make a fist.

Laptop Back - leaning over a laptop puts pressue on the upper and lower spine which can cause pain and tension in your upper back, shoulders and neck.
To prevent: get up and move every 20 minutes. Keep your legs uncrossed, and form a tripod with the chair while seated to maintain better balance.

Shoulder Phone Crunch - bending your head to hold your phone between head and shoulder can cause pain in your neck and back.
To prevent: use a speaker or headset.

These suggestions seem like good common sense. When we "work all the time", a reminder is sometimes helpful to keep us healthy.

Discuss other healthy ideas with your Trusted Choice agent, Treutel Insurance, at http://www.treutel.com/. Options are available for affordable healthcare insurance policies.

TECHNORATI: http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Proud of Hancock County's Outstanding Community

The Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, under the direction of Tish Haas Williams, will recognize outstanding members the community at the August 27 Salute to Business and Industry.

We are proud of these outstanding citizens and businesses:
Ray Cox
Gerald Ges
Ames Kergosien
Larry Ladner
Woodrow Ladner
Hal Leftwich
Janell Nolan
Dusty Rhodes
Margaret Taylor
Myron Webb
Charlie Cornelius - Tourism Person of the Year
Maggie May's and Lulu Eats - Bay St Louis Business of the Year
West End Restaurant - Waveland Business of the Year
Aloha Gallery and Frame Shop - Diamondhead Business of the Year
OLG Crab Fest - Bay St Louis - Tourism Business of the Year
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co - Industry of the Year
US Navy at Stennis Space Center - Award of Excellence
Mayor Eddie Favre and Councilman Jim Thriffiley - Awards for Outstanding Service

As we prepare for the 4th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, these citizens and businesses are being recognized for their contributions in bringing back the Coast. Treutel Insurance is proud to be a part of this vibrant community. Congratulations !!!

Best of Mississippi 2009

Mississippi magazine published the "Best of Mississippi" in their recent edition. The winners were selected by readers to recognize their favorite hotspots from around the state.
Well worth a visit when you get a chance!

Best Steak - Shapley's in Ridgeland
Best Hamburger - Mugshot's Grill and Bar, several locations
Best Tamales - Doe's Eat Place, Greenville and Starkville
Best Appetizer: Bank Bang Shrimp- Bonefish Grill, Biloxi and Madison
Best Fine Dining - Nick's, Jackson
Best Downhome/Soul Food - Ajax Diner, Oxford
Best Cornbread - Cock of the Walk, Natchez and Ridgeland
Best Fair/Festival - Neshoba, Philadelphia
Best Resort - Beau Rivage, Biloxi
Best Hotel - The Alluvian, Greenwood
Best Weekend Trip - Mississippi Gulf Coast
Best Historic Site - National Military Park, Vicksburg
Best Gift Shop - Persnickety, Madison

Enjoy! and contact your Trusted Choice agent www.treutel.com for all of your insurance needs !!

2009 Hurricane Preparedness

1) Flood damage from hurricanes is NOT covered by your home or fire property insurance policy on your residence or business. Even if you are not in a designated flood zone, flood insurance is recommended. You MUST have a separate FLOOD insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program. There is a 30-DAY WAITING PERIOD before a new flood policy will become effective. Call or come by our office TODAY to get your flood policy!
2) Have a summary of your insurance policies with you if you must evacuate. NOW IS THE TIME to review your coverage levels on each policy (home, wind, flood, auto, etc) and your mortgage holders to ensure that your coverage is adequate and that all information is correct on your policy, including mortgage holders. Be sure you know your carrier's name and policy number for all of your policies. You may contact us (email: info@treutel.com, phone: 228-467-5662, fax: 228-466-4314) if you need policy information or if you need any changes to your policy. You may also obtain current policy information at www.treutel.com - select CSR24 for 24/7 access to your data.
3) Home and business preparations: * Remove yard debris, like dead tree limbs, that could become flying missiles* Have a safe place to park your cars or store your boat* Back-up computer records and store them at least 50 miles off-site* Gather important papers, including inventory lists and insurance information, to take with you if youmust evacuate (keep valuable papers in a WATERPROOF container)* Take pictures or video your possessions to assist in documenting.
4) If you evacuate, email us info@treutel.com with your contact information (address and phone number).
5) If a hurricane strikes our area, MAKE PERSONAL SAFETY YOUR FIRST PRIORITY! (Beware of dangling electrical wires, broken gas lines, etc.)5) If you have hurricane damage, report it to us as soon as possible - call 228-467-5662 or email: info@treutel.com or fax 228-466-4314. You may also report your claim directly to the appropriate carrier (phone numbers will be available at www.treutel.com). Recognize that communication lines may be impaired, but keep trying!
6) Following a storm, make temporary repairs and take pictures of all damage. Don't throw away any valuables until an adjuster has personally seen and documented them.
7) Thoroughly document your damage by listing damaged/destroyed items along with estimated values to provide to your adjuster. Take pictures if possible.
8) Your adjuster will discuss with you which damages are covered under your policy. Make a note of your adjuster's name and number, as well as the claim number you will be assigned. You will be assigned a different adjuster for each policy that you have. Keep in touch with your adjuster(s), at least weekly, until your claim is settled.
9) Contact Treutel Insurance, your Trusted Choice agent (email: info@treutel.com, phone: 228-467-5662, fax: 228-466-4314) with any questions you may have.
May God bless us all during this hurricane season.

Fun in the Sun - Boating into the Sunset

Summer is here and the water is beautiful. If you own a boat, anything from a fishing boat, bow rider, a party barge, or a luxurious yacht, you need to make sure your boat is properly insured.

Small boats (speed under 25 miles an hour), including canoes and kayaks may be able to be covered under your homeowners or renters insurance policy, according the Insurance Information Institute (III). But larger, more powerful boats require a separate insurance policy to protect them.

Boat policies also provide broader liability protection than a homeowners policy. The hull, machinery, fittings, furnishings and permanently attached equipment can be covered under physical loss or damage, either on an actual cash value or on an agreed amount value basis. Actual cash value polices will cover the replacement cost of your boat less depreciation. Agreed amount value policies are policies where you and your boat insurance carrier agree on the amount your boat is worth in event of a total loss.

Additional coverage may be available on your boat insurance policy to cover:
+Bodily injury--for injuries caused to another person
+Property damage--for damage caused to someone else's property
+Guest passenger liability--for legal expenses incurred by someone using the boat with the owner's permission
+Medical payments--for injuries to the boat owner and other passengers
+Theft

Check with your Trusted Choice agent (http://www.treutel.com/) to ensure you are properly insured.

Random Thoughts About Life

MAKE IT MATTER – Those to whom much is given, much is asked. We live in a very wonderful world. While it is not perfect, there is much we can do to make our world a better place.
SPEAK UP – When ordinary citizens don’t use their voices, special interest groups will rule. Stay engaged with your local, state and national governmental officials, and let them know what you think. Get involved with your Chamber of Commerce.
CHECK THE FACTS – Mis-information and ‘spinning the message’ are very prevalent in today’s media. Always check other sources to find out what key facts may be left out, so you may decide for yourself. Reader’s Digest (June 2009) offered the following websites as good sources to verify facts: congress.org (shows how politicians voted and upcoming key votes); sunlightfoundation.com (posts info on major bills and congressional earmarks); google.com (great for fact-checking); recovery.gov (info on the stimulus bill); cagw.org (Citizens Against Government Waste); pogo.com (Project on Government Oversight). Might be worth checking these out.
HEALTHCARE – This is going to be a huge topic over the next few months. Stay tuned for developments that could really change our way of life. I would hate to have to go to the Post Office to purchase my healthcare coverage! Socialized medicine is NOT the right answer. Check out iiaba.com for FACTS.
GET HEALTHY - On the other hand, our society is not very healthy, and we should all do more to change the trend (ok, I know, it’s time to get back to my exercise class that I have missed over the last few weeks!). Reader’s Digest had a good article on how to avoid Diabetes with smarter food choices (all the things our Mothers told us!!) Starting today, make a plan to: drink milk, eat nuts, drink coffee, and sprinkle some cinnamon. Also, according to mercola.com, to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s. add curry to a meal once per week.
EXPECT THE BEST ! Optimisim is contagious, so is pessimism :( Keep smiling!
PAY IT FORWARD – Do something nice for someone else everyday without expecting anything in return.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENTS - Contact Angelyn at Treutel Insurance for your auto, home, life, health, or business insurance needs.

Auto Insurance Myths

MSN Money highlighted an interesting article posted by insure.com "The 6 biggest car insurance myths" http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/the-6-biggest-car-insurance-myths.aspx.

Myth No 1: Red cars are the most expensive to insure. FALSE
Myth No 2: Thieves are more likely to steal new cars. FALSE
Myth No 3: My insurance will cover me if my car is stolen, vandalized or damaged by hail or fire. (FALSE-UNLESS YOU PURCHASE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE)
Myth No 4: If my car is totaled, my insurance will pay off what I owe on my loan or lease. (FALSE-UNLESS YOU PURCHASE GAP COVERAGE)
Myth No 5: My insurance company will pay for a rental car if my car is stoled or damaged in an accident. (FALSE-UNLESS YOU PURCHASE RENTAL REIMBURSEMENT COVERAGE)
Myth No 6: Drivers of sports cars get more tickets and thus pay higher insurance premiums. (FALSE. Hummer drivers have almost 5 times the average number of violations.)

Ask for a quote from your Trusted Choice Agent (www.treutel.com). We represent several carriers who offer great coverage and multiple discounts to SAVE YOU MONEY!! In Mississippi, Louisiana, or Alabama - we serve you first!

How to Avoid a Technology Disaster!

While a good insurance policy may provide you with protection for your electronic hardware (hint: add it as a scheduled item on your policy), the most valuable component may be your data, which is not covered by the policy. How many programs, data files, music files, movies, and pictures do you have loaded on your electronic devices? What a sickening feeling to consider the loss of all of your precious data…

For those of us in hurricane prone areas, we realize that portability is a key component of any disaster preparedness plan, however, since your backup device could fail, or be burned, blown away or flooded, backing up data into cyberspace may be the best solution of all. Check out Carbonite (www.Carbonite.com/Online-Backup ) or another online backup provider to protect irreplaceable files.

Also, we have begun the Countdown to the official start of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which is only a couple of weeks away. Don’t forget there is a 30-day waiting period for flood insurance. Check out www.treutel.com, your Trusted Choice agent, for information on this and other hurricane preparedness advice.

Emergency Care for You

EMERGENCY CARE FOR YOU FOR www.EmergencyCareForYou.org

The World Future Society (www.wfs.org/futuristupdate.htm) shared a great website in a recent article which you may find very helpful. I know I did.

ARE YOUR PREPARED?? Suppose your mom falls on the sidewalk, and a kind passerby calls 911. She's at the hospital now, but the doctor needs to know if she's allergic to the pain medication he wants to give her. And if she has diabetes. And if she's on Coumadin.

Are you ready to answer these questions? As the numbers of elderly with chronic health problems grow, the need for caregivers and family members to be prepared for emergencies will increase. Emergency Care For You, (www.EmergencyCareForYou.org), a service of the American College of Emergency Physicians, offers tips on what you need for a trip to the ER, as well as helpful medical forms to download and complete, such as lists of current medications, medical histories, advanced medical directives, and insurance information. Check it out.

Also, if you need advice on benefits offered under health insurance plans, contact your Trusted Choice Agent (www.treutel.com). Ask for Angelyn or Becky.

Can you afford NOT to have auto insurance?

In these tough economic times, many consumers must make hard decisions on where to 'cut back'. Some may even feel that dropping their auto insurance will help them make it through the pinch. But the real question is, "Can you afford to NOT have auto insurance"?

When you own a car, you should know what risks you may be exposed to. No matter how safe a driver you are, you may be involved in accidents, even if it is not your fault. You really need to protect yourself from your mistakes, AND from other people who might not drive as well as you do.

Cheap Insurance
The lowest auto insurance coverage is the one required by the law. However, this doesn’t mean that you should get that one. Minimum limits are set by each state, so that everyone can afford at least some type of protection. Many people go out and buy the minimum just because they think that this is the best, but this is definitely wrong.

Types of Coverage
There are a several different coverages available in an auto policy, and each one will protect you differently. This is quite important because if you get into an accident which isn’t covered by your insurance, you personally will have to pay for the damages. If you don’t have the money, the person who needs to get their car repaired will have the right to sue you, and you stand to lose your car, your belongings, and even your home. In some cases, you might cause serious bodily injuries which have to be treated with expensive medical procedures.

This is exactly why you should always try to get the best auto insurance coverage you can. Shopping with a Trusted Choice independent agent will provide you with sound advice, value added service, and multiple quotes, and you will only have to provide your information once, which saves you time and energy.

Extreme Weather and Floods Impact YOU!

Most natural disasters in the United States involve flooding, and spring is the peak flood season. Last week a new Web page launched by the National Weather Service and FEMA marked National Flood Safety Awareness week. The site shows the effect and cost of flooding throughout the U.S. and makes the point that floods can happen anywhere at any time of the year. Last year, the Midwest floods of June 2008 led to severe flooding in parts of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin and caused total damages of more than $5 billion. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike slammed into the Texas coast with storm surges up to 17 feet causing an estimated $20 billion in insured losses and produced heavy rainfall and flooding all the way up to the Great Lakes.

Don't be unpleasantly surprised. Most homeowners and renters policies exclude flood damage. A separate flood insurance policy is available from your Trusted Choice Agent (http://www.treutel.com/ The cost is typically less than $1/day ... well worth the investment!

Impacts of the economy on small businesses

Merchant Circle recently conducted a Small Business Economic Survey which revealed a very sobering view of our economy. Of the over 8,000 respondents, the majority employed 5 or fewer staff. These small businesses are seeing a moderate decline in revenue and feel that the most important 'stimulus' needed is to have more tax and business breaks to ensure long term viablity. Lowering costs, retaining good staff and soliciting good customers are critical for small businesses.

From an insurance perspective, small businesses may benefit from choosing a Trusted Choice agent who can provide a choice of coverages from multiple companies. Higher deductibles will reduce the total premium and may be a good way to lower costs in the near term, until the good times are rolling again!

Life Insurance - can you live without it?

In the midst of an economic slump in early 2009, many consumers aren’t likely to have “buy life insurance” at the top of their to-do lists. Yet life insurance is indispensable. Parents and business owners—indeed, anyone who has people dependent on them financially, either at home or at work—can benefit from the unique advantages of life insurance. What is life insurance? Life insurance is a financial contract in which a life insurance company agrees to pay an amount of money to a person upon the death of another person, in exchange for regular payments (known as premiums). To better understand what life insurance is and why it is so important, read this article. To begin a discussion of life insurance needs and solutions, contact Angelyn or Becky at Treutel Insurance, your Trusted Choice insurance agency.